Spring Break Topeka Day Trip

So our intent, over Spring Break, was to do a quick quasi road-trip...three or four nights. We were going to go through St Louis, over to Dayton, OH to see the USAF Museum, then down south into Kentucky for various things. One of those things (Mammoth Cave) kind of fell apart when we realized all tours were booked well in advance, and the justification for the trip kind of dwindled until we decided to cancel it.

In place of it though, since I still had a couple days of PTO coinciding with the family's spring break, we opted for a short day trip to Topeka...essentially reenacting this trip from 8 years ago. First stop, Combat Air Museum.


The kids were more interested in details and history this time...the benefit of older kids, for sure. This is the inside of a big Sikorsky Sea Stallion.


M61 20mm Vulcan aircraft cannon. I tried to explain the rotary cannon concept....


It was chilly but not too bad. This Loach (OH-6 Cayuse I believe, later adapted to the Little Bird) had a 7.62mm minigun mounted on a port side pylon.


This was a MiG-21 in Czech livery...interesting to see Czech (Latin character set) writing on the outside but obviously Russian / Cyrillic in the cockpit.


Pete's big enough to see in without assistance. He was 2 when last here.


One of my favorite things at air museums is when they open up the aircraft to allow folks inside. Off to visit the EC-121 Warning Star.


The interior had so many different radar stations to be manned by personnel...this would have been a crowded plane. Small kitchenette for coffee, two bathrooms and five bunks, as well as a standard (non workstation) set of passenger seats.


I made the kids try to guess what this helicopter was used for. Would be a terrifying ride I'm sure but if wounded at the front, one you'd be grateful for receiving.


Sikorsky "Tarhe" sky crane, a heavy lift chopper with a reverse facing crew position where the crane operator had a joystick. Mentioned the similarity to those claw crane machines at arcades and Peter said something like "I bet they practice a lot with those!!".


LOL


Peering in the F-14. Got to explain how the variable sweep wings work and dang it, I forgot to point out the tailhook! There's actually a lot of Navy planes at this museum, which is convenient for them since the wings fold up and you can fit more in.


Alas this was last year. I really really want to know who the "celebrities" involved were. Or were they serving "celebrity pancakes", pancakes in the shapes of famous celebrities? OR WORSE


Then a short hop over to the Kansas National Guard museum. I took a lot of blurry photos because Pete rarely stands still. One shot of a variety of WWII vintage battle rifles.


A PPSh-41 commie submachine gun. So many of the weapons and exhibits here are actually war trophies brought back, so I'm pretty sure this is a Viet Cong (or NorK) weapon, likely...we never fought the Russians directly.


Alas, too topical. Can't remember which AT system this is....ahh, a TOW. Big sucker. Maybe we can ship this to our Ukrainian friends and get some use out of it!


OK, so last time we were here, Peter, as two year olds do, happily grabbed the handle of Ma Deuce here as if he were firing, and I, as fathers do, refrained from correcting him and happily took his picture. Apparently we were not the only ones to break the rules, because they've now blocked off access to the trigger and even added a chain to prevent it rotating into accessibility. Oops...we're sorry.


Recoilless rifle...mostly obsolete but an interesting technical concept.


Also obsolete but impressive...Lahti 20mm AT rifle, as would have been used in the Winter War against the invading Red Army in Finland.


This was fascinating, an original StG 44, the original "assault rifle", a selective fire weapon with a large "banana" clip, a "Kurz" shortened round for less recoil and weight. I've always thought they were likely a very big influence on the AK-47...superficial similarities as well as the overal concept of a shortened 7.62 round. I would love to just inspect one of these up close or even field strip it!


Outside the ladies returned to the car to stay warm but we were off to see the tanks. Self-propelled arty:


I think this may have been an original M1 (not A1/A2) Abrams.


Speaking of self propelled artillery...the Priest. Not sure how old this one is, but I assume possibly WWII vintage.


A selection of choppers including a Cobra and a Huey (and another sky crane).


Soviet motorcycle with side-car...


M60 Patton. (I explained, topically, what Molotov cocktails were and how they would be used to attack a tank from behind.)


Then off for a more light-hearted visit...the Zoo.


They have a nice Japanese garden adjacent that Debra wanted to visit. Next month allegedly they will have a cherry blossom festival but at this point in March it is still a bit drab, but a pretty little spot.


As I recalled from last time, when I was just learning to hunt, the place is awash in fox squirrels, much more numerous than the Eastern grays we have by the bucketful.


We were treated to a bit of show from this character who had purloined some kind of large vinyl banner.


He or she was eventually content to sit down and rip it to pieces.


...while warily keeping an eye on the surroundings lest someone come reclaim it.


Cats doing what cats do...


A greenhouse dome where it was warm and a bit niffy. Pete opted to quickly leave.


Tropical plants, reptiles, and odd looking birds in there.


The bears weren't out but we remembered getting the kids' picture in this chair.


Then we got pizza from the food place (the margherita was a bit odd...chunks instead of slices of tomato and an obvious dusting of DRIED basil, it was basically garlic cheese bread, but OK enough for what it was), got some candy and gas at the station, and headed back east. It was a nice trip in that it gave us the feeling of travel, without all the negative aspects and time investment required.